Ireland’s Cultural Heritage

I asked Microsoft Copilot what exactly cultural heritage is 😀. This is what it said:

Cultural heritage refers to the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and passed on to future generations. It encompasses the traditions, customs, monuments, artworks, language, and knowledge that shape a community’s identity and values.

In my childhood and youth, I used to feel that Irish culture was being rammed down my throat 😀. Like most people that I knew, I much preferred UK or American music and films. I didn’t really like the Irish language, and all the anti-British history, stories of various rebellions etc.

And I like all the ancient monasteries and old cathedrals etc.

Both Roman Catholics and Protestants see all that as part of their heritage. As an evangelical Christian, I also take a specific interest in evangelical history in Ireland. I cover some evangelical Irish history in the following posts:

• Irish Church History Chronology
• Ten Influential Irish Evangelical Christians: Part 1
• Ten Influential Irish Evangelical Christians: Part 2

But even if I were an atheist, I would still love all these old church buildings. Religious buildings are often the most memorable thing about a city or a region. Ireland has a good many old castles too. The closest ones to me are Kings John’s Castle, Limerick and Bunratty Castle, which is just about 10 miles away in Clare. Blarney castle, in Cork, isn’t too far away either.

Regarding music, 1970s rock group Horslips helped me to develop a taste for Irish traditional music. They had elements of traditional Irish music in their rock music, but they made one entirely traditional album – Drive the Cold Winter Away. In my youth, I dismissed that particular one, but now I love it. Here’s an example of a Horslips traditional song and a rock song. Even the rock songs were often based on traditional Irish tunes and literature.

And in my adulthood, the two aspects of Ireland that I was most proud of was Zig and Zag and U2 😀. I’ve just returned from a short break in Dublin, where I spent some time around Grand Canal Dock. My introduction to that area of Dublin was the video for U2’s Gloria back in 1981. Much has changed in the area since then, but I remember being amazed that an Irish band could have such an impressive video.

And finally, here are two hymns based on the writings of Patrick.